Fulton County Commission Chairman John Eaves, in a photo from his website. (Credit: Fulton County)

In a letter to the media, sitting Fulton County (Georgia) Commission chairman Dr. John H. Eaves, who is running for the office of Mayor of Atlanta 2017, points out his perspective why the Thursday, March 30, 2017 Interstate fire and subsequent collapse of the Interstate 85 North bridge at Piedmont Road in Atlanta is a major cause of concern for the metro area’s leadership and collaboration.

He writes:

My fellow Atlantans, Leadership Matters.

Atlanta experienced a traumatic incident that will go down in history as one of the most consequential infrastructure oversights in Atlanta’s recent history. We are fortunate to have the finest and bravest first responders who protected themselves and the public from being harmed.

The unfortunate consequence is that the collapse of the interstate will have a tremendous impact on major lifeblood of our community’s transportation. There are approximately 243,000 vehicles that travel that portion of I-85 on a daily basis. 243,000 vehicles.

This crisis exposes the underlying issue of the lack of a cohesive and comprehensive transportation plan. My friends, I submit to you that we need leaders who have a vision, not those looking for solutions used during the 1996 Olympics. We need leaders who roll up their sleeves to develop robust public policy, not people who roll up to a scene because there are cameras.

I am the ONLY mayoral candidate who collaborated with other leaders in the region to pass the transportation legislation in November 2016.

“Fulton County Commission Chairman John Eaves has been working for months to build consensus among all the mayors in his county on how to move forward with transportation funding. … Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, who was attending his second meeting of this group, first voiced his disapproval of the process.” Maria Saporta, The Saporta Report, 02/16/2016

I am the ONLY mayoral candidate who has been actively taking a leadership role to resolve the issues.

“But whatever happens, a new era of regionally-minded transportation planning seems to be dawning in parts of Fulton County. Fulton Chairman John Eaves has been convening a group of Fulton mayors for several months to hash out a possible menu of road and mass transit projects to put before voters.” John Ruch, Reporter Newspapers, 02/07/16

I am the ONLY mayoral candidate who had the tough discussions in 2012 to develop Concept 3, the 10-county regional plan.

“This year, Eaves is at the forefront of a push for a vote next year on expanding MARTA’s existing rail network into areas of the county not served by trains, notably the Georgia 400 corridor from Sandy Springs north to Alpharetta.” Dave Williams, The Atlanta Business Chronicle, 01/19/2017

We can’t trust our future to just anyone. Leadership matters. Experience is necessary.

Join me and we’ll make a difference for everyone.

Yours for a better Atlanta,

John

Eaves term in the Fulton County Commission end December 2018. His opponents in the race to replace outgoing Mayor Kasim Reed are Atlanta City Council President Ceasar Mitchell, council members Kwanza Hall, Mary Norwood and Keisha Lance Bottoms, former Atlanta chief operating officer Peter Aman, former Atlanta Workforce Development Agency director Michael Sterling, State Sen. Vincent Fort and Cathy Woolard, former president of the Atlanta City Council.